Friday, September 26, 2008

Does socialization influence gender roles?

The aim of this report is to discuss if male and female socialization influences in gender roles. Information was collected via a survey from a group of 9 students (4 female and 5 male) aged 18-26 at Tamwood International College. The students were asked some few questions about the topic and the answers were compared and analyzed for significant similarities and differences.

The first part of the survey dealt with the way men and women were brought up and if it encouraged them to be ‘typically’ female or male. Almost all the interviewed people answered yes to this question. They said their parents used to dress them as boys, with shorts and pants, put them in some self-defense sports and also tell them to be strong and responsible; or as girls, with dresses and skirts, putting them in arts or ballet classes. Only one of the students felt he could choose what he really wanted to dress or do.

The other part of the survey shows what kind of things they used to do when they were a child. The vast majority of female students reported that they used to win lots of dolls and play outside the house. In contrast, all the males in the group used to win cars, robots and balls and play some video games or computer games and also some sports, as soccer, basketball, tennis and judo.

In addition, it was said by the female group that in the house they had to do the dishes, clean their bedroom and sometimes cooking. Rather surprisingly, the entire male group had the same jobs to do in the house.

Apparently, they all had the same subjects at school. As high school students, subjects would be usually the same for almost all the students.

A significant minority of those interviewed thought they were told off for the same things as their brother, sister or friends of the opposite sex. However, it was generally felt that they were not told off for the same things as those people. The reasons given for this were that usually men have more freedom and advantages than women. They could spend more time out and do dangerous things. Women did not have the same freedom and they were also thought as too fragile and delicate.

In conclusion, the survey suggests that the way people are socialized significantly influences gender roles. It also appears that we still have things specially designed for men or for women and that we are always following the society stereotype.